Investigation Launched into Lake Michigan Drowning Death of Plainfield Man, Nabil Abzal, Also Known as Captain Bill

CHICAGO (WLS) — The Chicago boating community is mourning the loss of a man they knew as “Captain Bill.”

According to friends, the individual who tragically drowned and was retrieved from Monroe Harbor’s waters early Saturday has been identified. The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the deceased as 63-year-old Nabil Abzal from Plainfield, categorizing his death as a homicide.

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The circumstances surrounding Captain Bill’s death remain murky on Monday.

“Experienced boaters don’t drown. I mean, they’re not going to slip and fall into the water. Something clearly happened here,” said boater Jody Kennedy.

Friends say Captain Bill slept on a boat he charters at the nearby DuSable Harbor.

“Captain Bill, as he was referred by most people, was kind of like the mayor of the dock. He would be here every day, because he was doing charters pretty much every day during the summer,” said Alan Dutkiewicz.

Robert Vanucci says the incident happened just feet away from him in the middle of the night.

“I was on the boat, sleeping,” Vanucci said.

Vanucci says he has known Captain Bill for years, and while he did not see how the incident unfolded, he said he saw surveillance video from the restaurant across the walkway from the gate to C Dock.

“Most of the video was on that side of the gate, and at nighttime, it wasn’t a very clear shot of what happened at that gate,” Vanucci said.

Vanucci says the video showed at least three other people with Captain Bill at the gate.

The restaurant owners say they shared the video with Chicago police. However, when ABC7 reached out for an update, all CPD said was that investigators are conducting a death investigation.

“It was clear to see who comes in out of the gate. So hopefully, that camera caught the people who, in fact, you know, did this,” Vanucci said.

Boaters who dock at DuSable Harbor are trying to understand what exactly happened that claimed the life of the beloved charter boat captain.

As the boating community comes to grips with the loss of one of its own, there is a memorial gathering planned for Saturday at C Dock. Organizers are encouraging people to come out and share memories of their friend, Captain Bill.

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